Alldocube iPlay 60 Mini Turbo Review: Is This the Best Budget Tablet of 2024 Under $200?

When we say tablets, most people immediately think of big names like Apple or Samsung, but there’s a whole world of budget-friendly options out there. One such contender is the Alldocube iPlay 60 Mini Turbo, an Android tablet that’s shaping up to be a solid competitor in the mini tablet space, especially for those who don’t want to spend a fortune.

The iPlay 60 Mini Turbo has been dubbed the “iPad Mini of the Android world” by some, and for good reason. It offers a compact 8.4-inch display, packs in the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, and runs Android 14, all for under $200. While it doesn’t have the same premium feel or advanced features as high-end tablets, it promises great performance for the price. But, like any budget device, there are some compromises you’ll need to consider.

Design and Build Quality

The Alldocube iPlay 60 Mini Turbo punches above its weight when it comes to design. Despite being a budget tablet, it sports a sleek and modern look that’s surprisingly premium for its price. The tablet’s 8.4-inch form factor makes it compact and extremely portable, ideal if you want a device that can easily carry around without it being too bulky.

On the back, the tablet has a clean and minimalistic design with a single 13MP camera and flash, though it’s worth mentioning that this tablet isn’t built to excel at photography.

The tablet’s body feels sturdy, and although it’s not confirmed if it’s metal or high-quality plastic, the matte finish gives it a soft, durable feel. There’s no creaking or bending when you apply pressure, which adds to the overall solid construction. At just 7.9mm thick and weighing 323 grams, the iPlay 60 Mini Turbo is lightweight enough for long periods of use without causing strain. The beveled edges add to the comfort, making it easier to hold for extended periods, especially if you’re watching movies or reading.

The buttons and ports are laid out well, with the power and volume buttons on the right side. The USB-C port, used for charging and data transfer, is located at the top of the tablet. While the placement is a bit unusual, it doesn’t get in the way during most activities, though it might be a bit awkward if you’re charging the device while using it in portrait mode.

One of the noticeable drawbacks is the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you’ll need to rely on Bluetooth or USB-C earphones if you want to listen privately. There’s also no cellular support, meaning you can’t pop in a SIM card for mobile data. This may be a dealbreaker for some, but considering the price, it’s not entirely unexpected.

The dual speakers are placed asymmetrically—one at the top and one at the bottom—providing stereo sound. While the speaker quality isn’t the best, it’s loud enough for casual media consumption, even if the audio feels a bit hollow at times.

Display Quality

The 8.4-inch display on the Alldocube iPlay 60 Mini Turbo is one of its standout features for a budget tablet. It offers a 1920 x 1200 resolution, which delivers a crisp Full HD experience. This means that whether you’re streaming videos, browsing websites, or reading eBooks, the content looks sharp and detailed. The screen is LCD, and while it’s not OLED or AMOLED quality, it holds up well for general media consumption.

The colors on the display are surprisingly vibrant for a device at this price point. Images and videos pop with a decent amount of contrast, and you won’t find it lacking in saturation. While not the brightest screen you’ll ever see, it does a respectable job when indoors. However, it can struggle in bright or outdoor environments. The screen is glossy and reflective, which can make it tough to use under direct sunlight or in very well-lit rooms. If you plan on using it outdoors frequently, you might want to keep this in mind.

The 60Hz refresh rate is typical for tablets in this range, so you won’t get the buttery smooth scrolling or animations that you would with higher-end devices that feature 90Hz or 120Hz displays. That said, for most day-to-day activities like watching videos, browsing social media, or even casual gaming, the display performs adequately without noticeable stuttering or lag.

One drawback is the viewing angles. While they aren’t terrible, you will notice a slight shift in brightness and color if you’re looking at the screen from an angle, which is common with LCD panels. This might not be a dealbreaker for most, but it’s worth mentioning if you often share your screen with others.

For media consumption, the tablet’s display can handle Full HD playback on platforms like Netflix and YouTube thanks to its Widevine L1 certification. This is a great feature, ensuring that you get to stream your favorite shows and movies in high definition.

Audio and Speakers

The Alldocube iPlay 60 Mini Turbo features dual speakers, one at the top and one at the bottom, designed to provide stereo sound. This is an upgrade from previous models that only had a single speaker, but the audio quality still leaves room for improvement. The speakers get loud enough for everyday use.

As for the quality itself, while the volume is decent, the sound tends to lack bass and clarity. Music playback, for instance, sounds flat, and if you’re an audiophile or someone who enjoys rich, immersive audio, you’ll likely notice the limitations here. The speakers do their job for casual listening, but if you’re planning on using the tablet for long movie sessions or gaming marathons, you might want to pair it with Bluetooth headphones or external speakers for a better audio experience.

For calls or video chats, the built-in microphone works well enough, but don’t expect studio-quality audio. It’s clear and loud enough for basic voice calls over apps like Skype or Zoom, though background noise can sometimes be picked up. The 5MP front-facing camera does an adequate job for video calls, but combined with the average speaker setup, it’s more of a basic feature than a selling point.

Performance & Gaming

When it comes to performance, the Alldocube iPlay 60 Mini Turbo is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, a big leap from the MediaTek processors found in previous models like the iPlay 50 series. This upgrade is what sets the iPlay 60 Mini Turbo apart in the budget tablet market, offering significantly smoother performance for everyday tasks and even some light gaming.

For everyday use, like browsing the web, checking emails, and watching videos, the tablet handles everything with ease. Apps load quickly, and you won’t experience the annoying lag that is often found in cheaper tablets. Multitasking is smooth, thanks in part to the 8GB of RAM, and you can switch between apps without noticeable slowdowns. Alldocube has also included 8GB of virtual RAM that uses internal storage to extend the memory, which can help a bit with performance under heavier loads, though you may not notice a dramatic difference in daily use.

When it comes to storage, the tablet offers 128GB of internal storage, but you’re left with about 109GB of usable space out of the box due to system files. This can fill up quickly, especially if you download large apps or games. Thankfully, the tablet supports microSD cards up to 1TB, so expanding your storage is as simple as popping in a card.

Unfortunately, one downside is that the iPlay 60 Mini Turbo lacks high-speed internal storage like UFS found in higher-end devices. This means you might notice slightly slower app installations or data transfer speeds compared to more expensive tablets. It’s not a major issue for casual use, but if you’re constantly moving large files or installing apps, it’s something to keep in mind.

Gaming

While the Alldocube iPlay 60 Mini Turbo may not be marketed as a gaming tablet, it delivers a surprisingly solid performance for casual gamers, thanks to its Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor and Adreno 710 GPU. For games that aren’t too graphically demanding, the tablet handles itself well, offering smooth gameplay and minimal lag. If you’re into lighter games like Roblox, RuneScape, or similar titles or even higher like Minecraft and Asphalt 9, you’ll have no trouble enjoying them on this device.

For more demanding games, like Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile, the iPlay 60 Mini Turbo can still hold its own, but you’ll need to make some compromises. With Genshin Impact, for example, running the game at the default low settings provides a playable experience, though there are noticeable frame rate drops and occasional stuttering during more intense action scenes. If you bump the graphics up to medium or high, the tablet will start to struggle, and the overall performance becomes choppy. For the smoothest experience, you’ll want to keep the game at lower settings.

One of the strengths of this tablet is that even when running heavier games, it doesn’t heat up excessively. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor manages to stay relatively cool during extended gaming sessions, which is impressive for a device at this price point. While the back of the tablet may warm up a bit, it never gets too hot to the touch, which speaks to its efficient 4nm processor.

The 8GB of RAM helps with multitasking, but when it comes to gaming, the Adreno 710 GPU is the main driver of performance. While it won’t deliver console-level graphics, it performs well enough for most casual games and even some mid-tier titles. For games that require fast reflexes and precision, like first-person shooters or MOBA games, the tablet holds a steady frame rate at lower settings, making it a viable option for casual competitive gaming.

Battery Life & Charging

The Alldocube iPlay 60 Mini Turbo is equipped with a 5,500mAh battery, which offers respectable battery life for a budget tablet. Depending on your usage, the tablet can last anywhere from 6 to 8 hours on a single charge. For light tasks like web browsing, checking emails, or streaming videos at medium brightness, you’re more likely to reach the upper end of that range. However, heavier use—such as gaming or watching videos at full brightness—can bring that number down closer to six hours. For casual users, this battery performance should be more than sufficient.

Charging is done via the USB-C port, and the tablet supports 18W fast charging. While this is faster than standard charging, it’s not blazing fast compared to high-end devices. Charging the tablet from 0 to 100% will take around two to two and a half hours, depending on whether you’re using it while charging. Unfortunately, no charger is included in the box, so you’ll need to use one of your own or purchase one separately. This might not be a big deal if you already have a USB-C charger, but it’s something to consider if you don’t.

Software Experience

The Alldocube iPlay 60 Mini Turbo runs on Android 14, offering a near-stock Android experience that’s both clean and user-friendly. One of the best aspects of this tablet is the lack of bloatware—unlike many other budget devices, Alldocube has kept the software minimal, meaning you won’t find unnecessary pre-installed apps clogging up your storage or slowing down the device.

The user interface (UI) is simple and straightforward, which makes navigating through apps and settings quick and intuitive. Alldocube has kept modifications to Android 14 minimal, so if you’re used to stock Android or have used a Google Pixel device before, you’ll feel right at home. Essential features like split-screen multitasking, notification management, and quick settings work smoothly, and you can easily customize your home screen and app drawer without any added complications.

Android 14 brings with it several performance improvements and security upgrades compared to older versions, making this tablet future-proof for the next couple of years. Features like adaptive brightness and gesture navigation are included and work well. The adaptive brightness, for example, quickly adjusts to changing lighting conditions, ensuring the display remains readable without having to manually tweak brightness levels.

However, the tablet does lack some of the advanced software features found in higher-end Android tablets, such as Samsung DeX or other desktop modes that offer a more PC-like experience. There’s no desktop mode available, even though the tablet supports video output via USB-C. This means you won’t be able to mirror the tablet to a monitor in a more productivity-focused layout, but that’s not a huge deal considering this device is aimed more at casual users rather than professionals.

Connectivity

One area where the Alldocube iPlay 60 Mini Turbo makes some compromises is in its connectivity options. The tablet lacks both LTE support and the more advanced Wi-Fi 6 standard, which could be a drawback for users who need top-tier wireless performance. However, for casual use, the connectivity options included still get the job done well enough.

Starting with Wi-Fi, the tablet supports the older Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) standard. While Wi-Fi 6 is becoming more common, especially on newer tablets and smartphones, Wi-Fi 5 still offers respectable speeds for most everyday tasks like streaming, browsing, and downloading apps. However, given the iPlay 60 Mini Turbo’s target market and price point, this omission isn’t surprising.

As for cellular connectivity, the tablet does not include LTE support, meaning you won’t be able to pop in a SIM card and use mobile data on the go. For wireless audio, the tablet supports Bluetooth 5.0, which is stable and works well with wireless headphones, speakers, and other Bluetooth devices.

Final Verdict: Value for Money?

The Alldocube iPlay 60 Mini Turbo strikes a solid balance between affordability and performance, making it a strong contender in the budget tablet market. If you want a compact and portable tablet without breaking the bank, this device delivers in many key areas, especially for its sub-$200 price tag. While there are a few compromises—such as the lack of LTE support, Wi-Fi 6, and some higher-end features—the iPlay 60 Mini Turbo still offers great value for the price.